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146
NOTES OF A BOTANIST
June 24.- -This morning in less than an hour we
reached a narrow but rather deep rocky stream,
remarkably like so many others in
Canelos for its crystalline water.
the Montana of
We crossed it
near its junction with the Pastasa, on the banks of
which and above its mouth rise lofty cliffs from the
river's edge, to avoid which it is necessary to
climb over the most formidable mountain on the
whole route, named Abitagua, and perhaps 6000
feet high. It was near midday when we reached
the summit. At something more than half-way
up is a puesto (resting-place) called Masato,
whence there is a view down the valley of the
Pastasa, extending, it is said, in clear weather
even to the Maranon. I could distinguish the
water of the river Pastasa apparently a little below
Andoas, but beyond this the sky was too hazy to
make out anything. From Masato upwards the
ascent is painful steep, rugged bits alternating
with flats of mud, sometimes over the knees. On
the top is a long narrow plain, where the intervals
between the trees are occupied by loose mud. At
the western extremity of the plain is a small open
dryish space where a cross has been erected.
From this site the heights of Patati and Guayrapata
in the Sierra are visible, as are also the
much nearer
between the
ridges running from
Topo and the Shuna.
Llanganati
From the
cross there is a steep short descent, and then
another long muddy level, about midway of which,
and a little to the right of the track, there is a
hollow filled with clear cold water in fact, it may
be called a lagoon, though there are mounds here
and there on it with trees, true Vaccinia, etc., on